Chapter 145: The Wolf Pack

Immediately, male laborers carried in stone tables and chairs and placed them on either side of the hall. Two rows of female servants followed, carrying trays of roasted meat, crisp treats, and fruit snacks. They sat the food down and streamed out in the fashion they entered, single file with a foot distance between one another.

The female beasts' eyes glistened as they gazed greedily at the assortment of food. In a place like the Nar realm, getting two meals from a warm morning to an ice night was already considered a great fortune. An indulgence such as the one before them was unseen and unheard of.

"King Ramose is serving such delicacies for his mate's welcome banquet. He must truly love her." A female beast with green eyes and grey skin remarked wistfully at the Wolf King's unrestrained doting towards his mate.

"He does. This Purple-Radiance Palace is valid proof of his deep affections. Although mate bonds bring soulmates closer, it doesn't affect the feelings in a beast's heart. Feelings between mates are cultivated over the period of time they stay together. But why is the Werewolf King so smitten with his recently mated mate?"

"That's what I would like to know."

As they whispered enviously among themselves, their dark gazes flickered to the serene Serpentine Queen, who disinterestedly sat on her throne with her hand on her cheek.

"Come, take your seats, everyone. Today is a day to celebrate and you shouldn't stand on ceremony." Ramose amiably invited the wolves to the settled table.

His mate, the love of his life, sat beside him in the Underworld Palace. The happiness and joy he felt could not be expressed in mere words, leaving him high with excitement that had no outlet to vent.

A part of him yearned to break out of his Wolf King shackles and run rampant in the Nar realm, howling to his heart's content as he basked in the blissful emotions. But the other part of his soul, the King of the Underworld Palace, forced him to remain sane and carry out the custom of presenting his mate to the Werewolf Clan as tradition demanded.

Dinning with his kin was the only way he could share his joy.

The Ruling Wolf Pack members sat on the right of the Werewolf King while the King's Pack sat on his left with their mates respectively sitting beside them. 

"Wolf Pack, would you introduce yourselves to the Serpentine Queen?" Ramose glanced expectantly at his pack, his words, though phrased like a question, were more of a command.

"Of course, Werewolf King." Olsen was the first to stand up, bowing respectfully to the Serpentine Queen as he made his introduction.

"Serpentine Queen, we have already met, but as the Werewolf King's Beta Right Commander, a formal introduction is a must. I am Olsen, a Right Commander Beta Wolf that oversees the Personal Safety of the Werewolf King, and now, yours as well, My Queen."

Versailles smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. The wolf's friendly and familiar manner of speech warmed her heart. Olsen smiled back and sat down.

Another wolf with grey hair and eyes stood up, to give his respects.

"Serpentine Queen, we have never met as I am in charge of overseeing the Wolf King's Administrative Affairs. I am Kugar, a Left Commander Beta Wolf of the Werewolf King's pack."

"I am Versailles. Nice to meet you, Kugar."

"I am Julian. A Beta Wolf in charge of the Werewolf King's Internal and External Strategies and Planning."

"I am Lium. A Beta Wolf in charge of the Werewolf King's Order of Personnel and Management."

Two more grey-haired wolves followed the first four, giving a similar introduction of themselves and their area of responsibility.

Versailles nodded amiably to all six wolves and turned to her mate with furrowed brows. 

"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" His mate's well-being was Ramose's greatest concern. The slightest frown or smallest displeasure alarmed him. The moment he saw her frown, he instantly panicked. 

Versailles knew his worries and openly voiced her confusion.

"Why did Olsen and the other address themselves as Beta wolves? Is the distinction important?"

"That's why you were frowning?"

"Yes, so what's the story?"

Ramose scrutinized her face for a few more heartbeats and relaxed after failing to find anything else. His heart had almost leaped out of his chest in worry when he saw her furrowed brows. Fortunately, it was a false alarm.

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"In your Snake Clan, you must have a way to identify serpentines, correct?" Leaning back in his throne, he began in a calm tone.

"Yes, the color of a serpentine's scales is a defining trait to both her ability and personality."

"The same case applies to the Werewolf Clan. Only, the fur color of a wolf determines the wolf's status in the clan. The beta wolves are all grey-colored and are the strongest and fastest after the Werewolf King. They are the Wolf King's eyes, ears, mind, and shield. As such, their rank in the Underworld Palace is right below the King." Ramose stretched out his hand and held hers as he explained.

"Olsen and the grey wolves rank right below me and are responsible for carrying out my orders, ensuring my safety, and looking after the affairs of the Underworld Palace in my absence. In this case, the Ruling Wolf Pack carry out similar responsibilities."

"Are the Ruling Wolf Pack Beta Wolves as well?"

"Yes, they are. But they are the Beta Wolves of previous Werewolf Kings. Upon the death of Wolf Kings,' their Beta Wolves join the Ruling Wolf Pack to carry out the same responsibilities they once held, but in a lower position. Due to their age and experience, they are accorded respect, but their status is below the Beta Wolves of the reigning Wolf King."

"Does this mean the Ruling Wolf Pack are comprised of elder wolves from your father and grandfather's generation?" The Werewolf Clan's system of ranking fascinated Versailles as it was so similar to the Sybil realm's aristocratic ranking.

The aristocrats ruled by noble rank, family lineage, and wealth, while the wolves ruled by power, bloodline, and rank.

Ramose smiled on hearing the interest in Versailles's voice. He rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand and calmly continued.

"The Ruling Wolf Pack are grey wolves from the elder generation. They get a little annoying at times, but their knowledge and experience are invaluable. Aside from the grey wolves, there are the brown wolves that instruct and train fledgling wolves. The dark green wolves maintain order in the Underworld Palace. And the dark blonde wolves oversee the training and allocation of beast slaves and servants."

"What about other wolves? Are there any Rogue werewolves?" Versailles saw a few mixed-color wolves in her previous life. Some were hateful in both deed and appearance, while others were too pitiful to scorn.

"By Rogue, do you mean Branded wolves?" 

"I guess if that's what you call them."

"Branded wolves are not prevalent as the acts they commit must be horrendous enough to deserve banishment. They get stripped of their werewolf form and lose their ability to shapeshift before being thrown out from the Underworld Palace. This places a cursed brand on their soul that prevents their reentry to the Underworld."

The Werewolf Clan had a method to strip a croaked werewolf of his shifting ability? This was shocking news to Versailles who never heard of such a matter before. After all, the werewolves were born into their ability as every race in the Nar realm was.

To be able to strip them of their innate ability was tantamount to striping their soul and changing their destiny.

"Aside from the grey wolves that are ranked right below the Werewolf King, the brown wolves, dark green wolves, and dark blonde wolves are ranked right below each other. Werewolves that don't fall in any of these categories are ordinary Omega wolves. They are at the bottom of the ranking and carry out miscellaneous tasks."

"And you? You are a black wolf and don't fall in any of the ranks. But you are the Werewolf King..."

"Haha...that's because only black wolves can become Kings, Light. Fur color is a hereditary trait and I inherited mine from my father, the previous Werewolf King."

"Oh..." That made sense. In both her previous and current life, the only black wolf Versailles had seen was Ramose. The Werewolf Clan's hereditary concept diverged from the Snake Clan's personality trait.

Where the fur of a wolf's color was determined by the gene of his father, the color of a serpentine's scales were determined by her personality and character trait.

"You must feel lonely being the only black-colored wolf in the entire Underworld Palace." She couldn't even imagine how Ramose must have felt, growing up as the only black wolf in the entire Underworld.

"Not really. When you are born into the top, being with others below your rank feels out of place. Besides, the black wolves are the Kings of the Underworld Palace. The training they undergo and responsibilities they shoulder are too heavy to share with anyone else." Ramose's eyes turned dark as he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

Versailles didn't notice the slight change, her mind going over the things she came to learn. In the Nar realm, the Werewolf Clan was seen as the most tolerant of the Six Supreme Clans. Their secure Underworld Palace and adoration for their mates envied and yearned for by the females of the various races.

What she didn't expect was the strict ranking system among the upper echelon.

"If Beta wolves are the noble and high ranking wolves and Omega are the ordinary and dispensable wolves, then what are the Kings'?" She curiously asked.

Ramose's gentle rubbing paused and his expression turned serious when he heard her question.

"The Wolf Kings are defined in two ranks, the Lykan and the Alpha."

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